The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-12-29
A NEW DEPARTURE.
The Piumed knights Ingenious Preparz-
tIon for the Coming Campaign.

The Piumed Knights Ingenious Prepar.-
tIon for the Coming Campaign.
A cable dispatch to the New York
Herald affords an interesting view of
MIR. Blaine's preparatory course of
training for the next Republican Ma
tional convention and candidacy for
the Presidency. A friend of the mag
netic statesman called upon him at his
hotel IN Paris and found him under
going course of gymnastics. under
the tutelage of an experienced French
professor. 1t will astonish Mr.. Blaine's
friends, doubtless, that he should find
it necessary to take lessons from a
Frenchman. as he has been regarded
as the most expert political gymnast
of the day. His friend in Paris dis
covered him performing on the hori-
zontal bars. balancing on his left arm
and swinging his entire body ninety
degrees. Any one who has heard the
distinguished statesman deal with a
delicate question on the stump can
readily understand how he could &C
complish the above feat. Mr. Blaine
then showed his acquaintance with the
difficult phases of the leap frog move
ment, and "skinning the cat" wind
ing up with most impressive exhibit
ton of the goose walk"
How far his agility in this direction
may aid him rs Il candidate remains
to be seen. He would, undoubtedly,
create u marked impression during
the Presidential canvass on the stump,
by going through series of such
athletic exercises for the benefit of his
admirers. 1t would be vast improve
ment upon stump speeches and letter
writing, which have been the bane of
Mr.. Blaine's life. He would also be
enabled to dodge inconvenient ques-
tions. If some inconsiderate bystander
should ask what be came of the predic-
ton that the business of the country
would 90 to the 'demnition bow
vows" if the Democratic party got in
to power, all Mr.. Blaine would have
to do is to 'skin the cat" When the
query would be put. why the South
became so prosperous when it got rid
of Republican carpet baggers. he
NJ ght divert the attention of his ques-
toner by trying the leap frog move
ment, and when he was asked about
my dear Fisher" all he would have
to do is to balance on his arm and
swing his body ninety degrees.
But Mr.. Blaine should take out
patent. at once, for this new process
of training for q political campaign,
or the first thing he knows of other
Republican statesmen will be infring-
ing upon his claim. We don't think it
is possible for the saturnine John
Sherman ever TO succeed in 's6inning
the cat" but there are many agile
feats with the bloody shirt with
which he is, doubtless, familiar. The
example of MIR. Blaine may inspire
Little Brooches " Foraker to set up
Il private gymnasium in the capitol
park at Columbus, and attain pro-
ticiency on the flying trapeze that
would go far toward making him Il
formidable candidate. There is no
knowing. besides, to what standard
of training he might bring the hand
"that was not shaken" Halstead
might set up as a rival to the imam
with the iron jaw" Three-cents-a
week. Evarts as star performer on
Republican liquor plank, and Frank
Hiscock as lightning change artist.
Should Mr.. Blaine's system come into
vogue among Republican statesmen,
next year, there will be more ground
and lofty tumbling than was ever
known in Presidential campaign.
After election. they could all practice
the goose-walk. "-A!bany (N. ~
dr0uS.